Reasons For Joint Pain
There are many reasons a dog may develop joint issues. Here are a few of the more common reasons.
Joint issues can develop at an early age. Puppies joints can be very sensitive while the pup is still growing. It is a good idea to protect the pup from excess jumping. If the puppy jumps too much it may cause the pup to grow abnormally. On leg may grow longer than another which will throw off his alignment for the rest of his life. This will cause joint pain.
It is important to note that dogs, especially large dogs like Golden Retrievers, may be prone to joint dysplasia. In addition to making sure you have an amazing breeder be sure to check the environment the large breed puppies are raised in. If the floor is slick and the puppies have a hard time walking on it they are more likely to have and get dysplasia.
If you decide to spay or neuter your dog be sure NOT to do the surgery before your dog is 24 months old. Spaying or neutering your dog before this time could result in permanent joint damage. Early spay/neuter affects the hormones which affect the growth of the puppy, this can cause abnormal growth and joint pain. Early spay/neuter can also result is a 70% increase in hip dysplasia and doubles the risk of bone cancer.
It is especially important to avoid grains and high-carb foods such as legumes. These have no place in a carnivores diet and will cause great, body-wide inflammation. This inflammation will cause not only joint issues but a host of other issues too.
Remember That Your Golden Retrievers Condition And Age Will Affect Results
Bear in mind that you will need to feed your chosen supplement at a double dose for the first two weeks.
After this, you should start to see signs of improvement in your dog. You can then reduce the dose and continue using your chosen supplement on a daily basis.
If your dog is a little overweight, then this will add extra stress to their joints. So it will be harder for your chosen supplement to take effect. Regular exercise and the correct amount of food will help your dog stay at the right weight.
Bear in mind that you will need to feed your chosen supplement at a double dose for the first two weeks.
After this, you should start to see signs of improvement in your dog. You can then reduce the dose and continue using your chosen supplement on a daily basis.
If your dog is a little overweight, then this will add extra stress to their joints. So it will be harder for your chosen supplement to take effect. Regular exercise and the correct amount of food will help your dog stay at the right weight.
The age of your golden will also impact the level of joint damage. Older dogs are more likely to have significant joint damage. Cartilage does not have any nerve endings. So any joint damage can be quite advanced before you see any physical symptoms.
Its a great idea to consider adding a joint supplement to your dogs diet before you see any signs of pain or discomfort. Many owners now choose to start their Golden Retrievers on a joint supplement right away.
How Joint Supplements Can Help Your Dog
Adding this to your dog’s daily routine will surprise you with how much benefits you get.
Where does all that energy come from?!
When your golden is young, they are full of it. Little do they know that they are more likely to get arthritis.
Seeing our dogs suffering from joint pain is very scary. Knowing this pain first hand created the need for a solution. Not just when it is a problem, but also to prevent the problems from occurring.
Thankfully there is a solution that has helped thousands of dogs live longer, pain free lives. Giving your dog joint supplements will lower the risk and reduce pain.
Your Golden looks to you for everything they need. Give them a little extra, so they can always be by your side for many years to come.
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What To Look For When Buying Joint Supplements For Your Golden Retriever
It hurts to see your adorable little furry pet in pain therefore, you know you have to give them medication to help them recover in no time. While you cant magically take away your pets joint pain, you can definitely help by getting the right joint supplements for them.
There are a few features that you must consider when buying the best joint supplements for your golden retriever.
- It should contain a variety of active ingredients, such as chondroitin and glucosamine, because they greatly help boost joint health in dogs.
- If your pet has allergies or sensitivities towards food, make sure to look for hypoallergenic supplements.
- Choose the kind of formula that your pet will easily consume. These typically range between powders, liquids, and chewable tablets.
When Can A Golden Retriever Puppy Climb Stairs
Your golden retriever puppy should not be introduced to the stairs at all until they are at least twelve weeks old. However, experts advise keeping puppies of larger breeds, like golden retrievers off the stairs until they are sixteen weeks old, as an extra precaution.
Having said that, golden retriever puppies still continue growing substantially after the sixteen-week mark, meaning that their hips and joints are not even close to being fully formed. Because of this, experts advise carrying your golden retriever puppy up and down the stairs for the first year of their life or until they become too heavy. Doing this ensures that your puppys hips and joints grow properly without any injuries or problems.
Once your puppy is old enough to use the stairs, train them in basic stair safety. Supervise your golden retriever puppy until you feel confident they will use the stairs safely. Make sure they are walking up and down the stairs slowly and are not missing any steps. Training safe behavior on the stairs during puppyhood will prevent many injuries and joint problems in the future.
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Are Some Dog Breeds More Likely To Get Arthritis Than Other Breeds
A. Any dog breed, including mutts, can get arthritis as they get older, but some dog breeds are more susceptible to getting arthritis than other breeds. Larger breeds, like Newfoundlands, Great Danes, golden retrievers, Labrador retrievers and German shepherds, are more likely to get arthritis than small breeds.
One exception to this rule is that smaller dog breeds with long backs, like dachshunds and corgis, are more prone to spine and hip problems and are more likely to get arthritis.
Use Stair Treads To Help Your Golden Navigate The Stairs
If you have bare wood stairs in your home, your golden retriever may have problems with slipping and sliding while climbing or descending the steps. This can cause falls and injuries, in addition to fostering a lack of confidence regarding stairs on your dogs part.
In this case, adding some non-slip stair treads can make a world of difference. These pre-cut Delxo Carpet Stair Treads have an adhesive backing and can be easily stuck to each step to provide traction for your golden retriever.
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The 5 Best Glucosamine For Golden Retrievers
Here is a list of the best glucosamine supplements for golden retrievers:
The Nutramax Cosequin supplement contains chondroitin sulfate, which is a natural chemical that is an important component of cartilage and is a major contributor to the cartilages resistance to compression. It also helps the cartilage retain water.
The pill also contains methylsulphonylmethane, more commonly known as MSM, which is another natural substance that helps improve flexibility in the joints and lessen inflammation and pain.
The combination of all these natural ingredients makes Nutramax extremely beneficial for your retrievers joints. It is particularly helpful for dogs who may have joint or hip problems that restrict movement or suffer from arthritis.
It supports the production of cartilage and helps protect existing cartilage from breaking down.
The pill comes in the form of chewable tablets and is suitable for dogs of all ages and sizes. It can also be easily crushed and mixed with your dogs food.
Movoflex Joint Support Soft Chews
What we love:This supplement option includes key ingredients such as hyaluronic acid for cartilage support and vitamin D for healthy bone function. But, almost just as important are the ingredients it doesnt include. MOVO is a great choice for dogs with diet limitations since it isnt made with gluten, sugar, shellfish, or salt.
What customer reviews say: With almost 4,000 ratings and an average of 4.8/5 stars, its obvious that dog parents approve of MOVOFlex. Some reviewers say they noticed an improvement in their dogs gait, and that movement was not so stiff after using this product. MOVOFlex is recommended to many by their vets, and the results are very positive. Its available in both 60 count and 120 count packs.
Ingredients: BIOVAFLEX eggshell membrane, hyaluronic acid, Boswellia serrata extract, ZANTHIN natural astaxanthin, vitamin D3.
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Treating Your Golden Retriever
Hip problems are some of the most common issues a Golden Retriever will likely face in their lifetime . As youve discovered, there are steps that dog owners can take as well as treatment and surgery options available to you. By knowing the signs and then properly exercising and making sure your dog’s diet is healthy, you will be ready to combat the problem should the need arise. Arming yourself with this knowledge will give you the tools you need to ensure optimal health and well-being for your pup.
Loder, R. Journal of Veterinary Medicine. The Demographics of Canine Hip Dysplasia in the United States and Canada. .
Manzottti, R. Official Golden Retriever. Hip Dysplasia and Golden Retrievers. .
Universities Federation for Animal Welfare. Golden Retriever Hip Dysplasia.
Goldens To Follow On Social Media
There are so many dogs to follow on social media, it’s hard to select just one. Here are the Goldens we enjoy most.
We have an employee at Parnell Living Science with a Golden. This is why Goldens have a special place in our hearts! She shares a lot of great photos on her social media, like this one:
All dogs are unique, but it seems there are some Goldens worth noting including:
A Golden was awarded a medal of bravery and the story is amazing:
Orca, a Golden Retriever service dog, won the prestigious PDSA Gold Medal in 2003. This medal awards animal bravery and acknowledges the devotion of duty our animals have. Orca is one of a handful of service dogs to win. Most honorees have served in the line of military or police duty. Orca was relentless in searching for help when his wheelchair-using owner fell into a ditch and was pinned face-down in a flooding creek. Although the first person he encountered believed he was lost and tried to lead him away, he broke free from his collar and eventually found another person, who ended up being his owner’s neighbor, and led him to the scene of the accident.
Here’s a blog post all about some famous Goldens, including one owned by former President Gerald Ford.
We enjoyed seeing Hollywood celebrity’s Goldens in this blog post too. It seems that these beautiful people are even more beautiful when photographed with a Golden Retriever by their side.
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Choose A Supplement Made In The Usa
Before buying any supplement, make sure you check the supplement is made in the USA. Buying USA products guarantees the highest quality ingredients and stringent safety procedures.
Budget brands, including some made overseas, may not be subject to the same stringent quality control. Supplements made in the USA also use Good Manufacturing Practice regulations.
This means that budget supplements may contain less active ingredients. You could be disappointed by the lack of results they offer. Choosing made in the USA, you can guarantee a quality product.
What Are The Symptoms Of Hip Dysplasia
Golden retrievers tend to be stoic breeds, and so typical signs of pain can be very subtle. In some cases, a dog may favor sitting on one side of his hips instead of the other, or he may be slow to rise from a sitting position. Dogs may avoid motions that cause pain like going up stairs or jumping. Limping is an obvious sign of pain.
In mild cases of hip dysplasia, dogs might not show any signs at all! But once osteoarthritis develops, some will start to show signs of pain. This may occur in middle age or when the dog is a senior.
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How Do Joint Supplements For Dogs Work What Kinds Are Available
Joint supplements work in a few different ways. Some are formulated to protect and potentially rebuild joint cartilage , while others feature ingredients that help reduce inflammation caused by joint issues.
The most common active ingredients in joint supplements are:
- Chondroitin: Primarily sourced from cow cartilage, chondroitin is an element that helps to prevent cartilage from breaking down.
- Glucosamine: Either synthetically created or derived from shellfish, glucosamine is a compound that helps your dog build new cartilage.
- Methylsulfonylmethane : An anti-inflammatory sometimes harvested from shellfish, the MSM used in joint supplements is usually manufactured in a lab.
- Green-lipped mussel: A rich source of omega-3s and glycosaminoglycans, this shellfish has anti-inflammatory and cartilage-protecting properties.
- Omega-3s: Renowned for their anti-inflammatory principles, omega-3s are typically sourced from fish, including cod, whitefish, and salmon.
There are also some less common active ingredients used in joint supplements, though theyve not yet been proven to be effective .
A few less common active ingredients are:
At What Age Should I Begin Giving My Golden Retriever A Joint Supplement
Much like humans, our Golden Retrievers joints wear down over time. As proactive pet parents, we want to do everything in our power to ensure our dogs joints stay healthy and our dogs stay active for as long as possible.
It goes without saying that proper diet and exercise are absolutely vital for the health of your Golden Retrievers joints. In addition, many veterinarians recommend supplementing your dogs diet with glucosamine & chondroitin as a preventative measure, and as a way of supporting the health of already aging joints.
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Install A Dog Ramp For Your Golden Retriever
A dog ramp is a great way for your golden retriever to avoid the stairs. This option is best for adult golden retrievers that have developed arthritis, hip dysplasia, or other conditions. Ramps help dogs suffering from pain and limited mobility, as they are much better for your dogs joints and prevent these conditions from worsening.
Furthermore, a dog ramp makes navigating the stairs easier and safer. You can install a dog ramp even if your dog is not experiencing any medical problems. Training your dog to use a dog ramp early on in life will help prevent hip and joint conditions from developing in the first place.
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While a ramp might not work for a long flight of stairs, they can work great in areas where there are maybe a few steps to get in and out of the house, and/or to get them comfortably in and out of the car.
The PetSafe Happy Ride Folding Pet Ramp from Amazon will provide a safe and secure surface to walk up without any climbing, saving your goldens hip joints.
Reasons Why Golden Retriever Hip Dysplasia Occurs
If you have a Golden Retriever with hip problems, youll naturally wonder why it happens. The Universities Federation for Animal Welfare had this to say in response:
The primary reason for this abnormal development is hip joint laxity if the joint is too loose leading to the two articulating parts of the joint of the pelvis the femoral head and the acetabulum – moving abnormally relative to one another the femoral head in subluxation from the acetabulum. This leads to abnormal stresses and strains on the joint and leads to inflammation and degeneration of the joint tissues.
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Golden Retriever Puppies And Stairs
Since the underlying cause of future hip dysplasia occurs when a golden retriever puppy is in their early growth phases, its important to make sure that there is not an undue amount of stress placed on the puppies joints early on. Therefore, it is crucial to make sure your puppy lives in an environment that encourages normal healthy joint formation. One way to do this is to prevent your puppy from using the stairs.
Using the stairs every day puts a lot of stress on your puppys hips and joints, causing inflammation, cartilage destruction, and possible injuries. Furthermore, puppies are often over-excited, clumsy, and still adjusting to their growing body, making them susceptible to falls and injuries while using the stairs.
How To Choose His Chews
Not just any pet supplement is good enough for your fur baby, but with so many brands available, it can be tough to choose the best hip and joint supplement for your dog.
Look for a health supplement like our multifunctional SmartyPaws chews , made with superstar ingredients for hip and joint health including glucosamine, chondroitin, green-lipped mussel and omega-3 EPA & DHA from fish oil.
These ingredients were carefully-selected by our Veterinary Advisory Board to promote joint health, help ease joint stiffness due to normal daily exercise and activity and help support the structural integrity of joints and connective tissue.
Heres a look at what they can do:
The American College of Veterinary Nutrition recommends talking to your vet if youre thinking about using any supplement.
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